Catch SportsDay On Air twice per week on Fox Sports Southwest, when Dallas Morning News experts discuss hot sports topics from the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars, Rangers and colleges (check our TV listings for air times). Here are a few highlights from Monday's episode featuring Corbett Smith and Rick Gosselin:

On if the Cowboys are contenders:

Gosselin: “They are certainly a contender. They’re 8-6 and if they win out, they win the division. They are certainly a contender, but the bottom line is they’re a mediocre team. This is NFL parity. Everybody is allowed to compete for as long as you possibly can, and the Cowboys have done a marvelous job coaching wise of overcoming a lot of injuries. The point is if you have a franchise quarterback, you’re always going to be in it, and the Cowboys have a franchise quarterback in (Tony) Romo.”

Smith: “Are they a contender for what? Are they a contender for the NFC East? Yeah, they’re certainly in the mix for that. Win out, and they’re in. Are they a contender for the Super Bowl? I don’t think anybody except for your most optimistic Cowboy fan is looking at this team as it’s currently constructed and saying yeah, that is a team that can make a late run. Rob Ryan has done a great job overcoming the loss of six starters but right now, they are not poised for a long run in the playoffs.”

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